the EU bank

Countdown to EU Eastward Enlargement - Practical Perspectives

By the time of the Forum, on 7 and 8 November 2002, decision on EU enlargement will be imminent. The Forum has therefore been organised to provide eminent speakers with an opportunity to express their views on the forthcoming enlargement and, at the same time, discuss subjects of immediate interest to the Bank's clients, notably the attractiveness of the CEECs for foreign direct investment and financing the economic catching-up process.

The Central and Eastern European countries have made considerable economic progress. Industry and the financial sector have been privatised, modernised and rebuilt. All have re-directed their foreign trade towards the EU, and made inroads into the EU's economy. East-West transport links have been established and are continuing to be developed, and telecommunications systems have been modernised, allowing for further trade expansion and integration into Europe's internal market. Moreover, these countries are in the process of adapting to Community regulatory practices. Investors from the EU will increasingly encounter a legal framework familiar to them, which will contribute substantially to attracting foreign direct investment. Of course, much remains to be done, levels of productivity need to increase, EU environmental standards must be implemented and countries need to strive for more balanced regional development. Foreign sources of finance will remain important for accomplishing the many tasks ahead, and the European Investment Bank will be particularly challenged to contribute to the region's full economic integration into the EU.

These pages will be regularly updated. The speakers' CVs and their speeches will be published at the conference and on this website.